South Africa v India, 3rd T20I: Stats & Preview

February 22, 2018

Image Credit - Hindustan Times

After facing a lot of criticism following their 28 run defeat in the 1st T20I, South Africa marvellously fought back in the 2nd T20I to secure a 6 wicket win. The JP Duminy team will have a chance to complete the turnaround come Saturday as the two teams gear for the decider in Cape Town, in what is going to be India’s final match on this 2-month long tour, and so we just cannot miss the stats and preview of the must-win 3rd T20I for both teams.

The target of 189 set by India in the 2nd T20I looked a daunting one especially for a team that has disappointed with the bat more often than not, however some power-packed batting by Heinrich Klaasen and JP Duminy, helped Proteas take the series into the final T20I.

Jasprit Bumrah was deemed not fully fit to take the field in the last match but the Mumbai Indians bowler is expected to return to the starting line-up for the all-important decider. Kohli and the team management could also bring in Kuldeep Yadav in place of Yuzvendra Chahal, who quite surprisingly gave away 64 in his 4 overs at Centurion i.e the most expensive spell by an Indian in T20Is.

South Africa who are currently ranked 7th in ICC T20I ranking, will enter the match full of confidence and aren’t likely to make any changes to their starting XI. The big positive that came out for India from the 2nd T20I was the performance of the middle-order consisting of MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey, both of whom have come under heavy scrutiny off late, thanks to some underwhelming performances. However, the duo came back into life with individual fifties, much to the relief of the team management and the fans of Indian cricket.

South Africa vs India, 3rd T20I: Stats and Preview

8 – South Africa have played 8 T20I’s at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town but have won only 4 of them. The Proteas last secured a win in Cape Town by in February 2016. Stats don’t point to an easy South African win in the 3rd T20I.

1 – This will be India’s first ever T20I game at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. If only we could get a preview of the wicket-conditions ahead of the match to douse our curiosity.

2 – JP Duminy is the 2nd highest run-scorer in T20I’s at Newland Stadium with 174 runs at an average of 43.50

17 – Virat Kohli is just 17 runs away from becoming the first Indian batsman to score 2000 T20 international runs. Rohit Sharma is second in the list with 1668 runs.

4 – Rohit Sharma’s duck in the 2nd T20 was his fourth in international T20 career, the most by any Indian batsman.

Best and Worst – Yuzvendra Chahal now holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in a T20 inning (6/25) and the worst bowling figures by an Indian in a T20 inning (0/64).

78 – MS Dhoni has inflicted 78 dismissals in T20 international cricket, the most by any wicket-keeper in the world.

2 – Only 2 bowlers have managed to take 4 wickets in an innings in a T20 international at Newlands. While the venue hasn’t witnessed any 5 wicket-hauls in T20I till now.